PURPOSE: To provide an apparatus for needling a nonwoven web capable of substantially compensating the first-order mass forces and mass moments.

CONSTITUTION: This apparatus for needling a nonwoven web comprises needle beams 3a and 3b for carrying a needle board 2, rocking links 10a and 10b for guiding the needle beams 3a and 3b and slider-crank mechanisms 7a and 7b for driving the needle beams 3a and 3b. To effect a mass compensation, the needle beams 3a and 3b are arranged one behind the other in the direction 1 of travel of the nonwoven web and are guided each by the rocking links 10a and 10b and actuated each by the slider-crank mechanisms 7 and 7b. Both the slider-crank mechanisms 7a and 7b comprise mutually parallel crankshafts or eccentric shafts 8 which are mutually rotated in opposite senses.